One can only I guess. My finger is on the frigates started to run and they didn't want to chase some crap teak/fir fir/fir frigates.
Most people don't look for nice fight, but ez pvp marks.
I had this with @Banished Privateer two or three days ago. He was tagged near Placentia by four CABAL ( 2 Bellona, 1x Endy, 1x Trinc)
@traitorous mctraitoro and I came to help, the battle closed with CABAL having 4 ships ( 2x Bellona, 1x Endy, 1x Trinc) vs the three of us ( 2x Bellona, 1x L'Ocean).
1205 BR vs 1310BR. Would have been an interesting fight, but CABAL made a run for it.